Ball stud retainer



Dec. 5, 1944. i WALDRQN 7 2,364,176

BALL STUD RETAINER Filed April 3, 1943 //VVEN TOR oulls Wald/"or? ATTORNAE'Y of my retainers positioned the curved section line 6.B; and

Patented Dec.5, 1944 Louis Waldron, Albany, N. Y., asslgnor of onethird to John J. Cron n and one-third to Eugene J. Hoerdt, both of Albany, N. Y. i

ApplicationApril 3, 1943, Serial No. 481,782 8 Claims. (01. 287-90) My invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to a safety device adapted to be applied to a ball and socket connection in the steering mechanism of an automobile whereby the ball stud is prevented from popping out of its socket due to excessive wear either on the ball,

the socket, or on both.

At the present time replacement parts for automobiles are diflicult to obtain and for this rea-. son many vital parts must be used until they are worn far beyond the point where, under nor mal conditions, they would be replaced. Among these very vital parts is the ball and socket joint which connects the steering arm associated with each of the wheel assemblies with the tie rod leading to the steering column mechanism.

operates with the socket 5, and at the upperend is threaded, as shown at 6, to receive a nut (not shown) which holds the steering arm 8 onthe stud. At the top, the exterior of the housing is provided with an annular shoulder l5 upon which ordinarily rests a dust capseat] (not shown). The dustcap I1 is ordinarily supported on the upper edge of the seatand a resilient packing I8 is compressed between thebottom of steering arm 8 and the top of the dust cap. By reference to Figs; 3 and 5 it will be noted that the housing is provided with a grease gun fitting l9 and, al-

These joints are difficult tolubricate properly and to maintain properly lubricated, with the result that they wear rapidly andi inany. accidents are believed to be directly attributable to such excess wear in these ball and socket joints as to permit the ball stud to pop outof its socket.

When this occurs steering control is lost and an accident is inevitable.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to provide a simple andeifective means for though the grease passage is not shown, it will be understood thatthis the housing in the space20.

Although short grease grooves are usuallyprovided between the ball and socket near the bot:- tom oftheir cooperating surfaces it is very difficult to force the grease between these cooperating surfaces beyond the grooves and; at the top thereof because of the extremely close fit. For

this reason-the cooperating surfaces of the ball and socket wear quite rapidly, the ball projects further and further upwardlyinto its. socket and finally, and suddenly, becomes separated therei from whereupon y'all connection between the preventing such accidents, and which" may be 1 easily applied to any ball and socket joint of this type.

With this object in view my invention includes the novel elements 'andthe combinations and arrangements thereof described belowand illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a metal strip illustrating tihe blank from which my ball stud retainer is formed; i

Fig. 2 is aside elevation view of the finished retainer before it is positioned on the joint:

likeportions 23 and Fig. 3 is an elevation view of a joint with one thereon; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device asshown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section of Fig. 4 along approximately Fig. 6 isa' fragmentary sectional elevation view through the center of a balland socket joint with my retainer in place thereon.

Referring to the drawing, the ball and'socket 1 joint comprises a socket housing I. which is formedintegral withthe tie rod 2 which is connected to the steering column mechanism by means (not shown). The housing is provided at the top with an inturned flange 4 against which the ball socket 5 is seated. The ball stud 6 is provided at its lower end with a ball 1 which oosteeringgear and at least one of the wheels is severed. i i l To prevent accidental separation of the ball and socketI propose to replace the dust cap seat with a metal strap formed from a blanksuch as shown in Fig. 1. This blank hasa preferably square centralportion 2| with an aperture 22 therein adapted to permit the passage of the' ball stud. therethrough. Projecting from opposite sides of the central portion are two strap- 24 which are apertured at the ends,.as shown at 25, forthereception ofa means for securing the ends of the straps together. The blank shown in Fig. 1 is preferably, but, not necessarily, preformed into the shape shown in Fig. 2 before it is applied to the joint. That is, the corners of bent downwardly as shown at 26, 21, 28 and 29 to form four depending prongs adapted to engage the exterior of the socket housing at the top as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The straps 23 and 24 are also, bent downwardly asshown in Fig. 2 and; then inwardly at right angles to form portions .30 and 3| which are spaced from the central portion a distance adapting them to engage the bottom of the socket housing, as shown in Fig. 4 when the' portion 2| is in contact with the top of the housing; the aggregate length of the portions 30 and 3| being somewhat less than passage opens within the square portion are the outside diameter of the housing. The free ends of the strap portions 23 and 24 are then bent downwardly at right angles to the adjoining portions and 3.1, respectively, to form the juxtaposed portions 32 and 33.

In applying my ball stud retainer to the joint, the steering arm 8, the packing it, the dust cap IT, andthe dust capseat' are first removed. The helical spring 31 (see Fig. 6) is'dropped over the ball stud with the small end down-so that it rests on the top of the ball. This spring is designed to be compressed between the topof the.

ball and the bottom of my ball stud retainer in order to reduce the wear on'the ball andso'cket by reducing the pressure which holdsthem together, and also to make it easier to force grease between their cooperating surfaces. I tainer, preferably preformed to the shape shown in Fig. 2, is then dropped over the ball stud; The straps 23 and 24 are then bent inwardly toward each other as shown; in Fig. 4. to embracethe housing and are ,secured together in. place by means of astove bolt 34, the lock washer 35; and

The restantially square central portion provided with v a centrally disposed aperture therein for the passage of said stud therethrough; the corners of said square portion being angularly disposed to said portion and adapted to embracethe end of a cylindrical housing for said socket; and. strap-like portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said central portion and adapted to be bent downwardly alongv the sides of said housing and under the bottom thereof; the free ends of said strap-like portion being apertured for the reception of a securing means.

nut 36. The depending-prongs 26, 21.28. and 29 may. then be poundedinto close engagement with the. housing. The top of my ball stud retainer functions-as a dust-cap seat and the dust cap is supported thereon as shown in. Figs. -3.-.and

The packing IB and-the steering arm'B-are then;

replaced asshowna i From the foregoing it will .be apparent that .wear of' the ball :an'dsocket .willnot only be reduced" but it'will' be impossible for the: socket housing to drop away from the ball. The metal from which the' b 11- retainer is formed ispreferably of steel and: impra'cticedt has been found thataithicknessof from 0.040" to 0.0 performs satisfactorily and is comparatively easily bent in assembling.

" Whatlblaim i I 15A ball stud retainer -for 'the' steerin'g gear of automobile comprising a metal strap having *a central portion provided with an aperture adapted" to permit the ball studof a ball and socket joint to pass therethrough and having marginal portions on said central portionvadapted tobe :bent downwardly to engage the sidesof the socket housing-of said Joint, and oppositely disposed straps extending from said central portion adapted to be bent downwardly along the sides ofsaid housing and across the bottom thereof;

the endsof saidstrapsbeing provided'with-taper- "tures adapted tobe brought into alignment under said housing" for the receptionof a securing means.

' ZJIn a safety device of the character described, the combination with a ball and socket joint of an automobile steering mechanism including a ball stud andahousin g for said socket, of a. ball stud retainer comprising a metal strap through which said ball stud passes and which extends substantially around said socket in close engagement therewith, a springsurrounding said stud and compressed between said ball and'said strap,

and means securing the endsof'said strap together.

3. A ball stud retainer for a'ball and socket joint in the steering mechanism "of an automobile comprising a metal straphaving a' subunder said housing.

4. Adevice adapted to retainin place the ball stud. of'a'w'orn, ball and socket joint in the tie rod or an automobile steering mechanism and comprising a metal strap having acenter portion provided with a centrally, disposed aperture of a size adapted to permit said stud but not said ball-to pass therethrou-gh; said central portion having, marginal portions depending somewhat below the apertured portion adapted to engage the exterior of said housing around the top thereof; and aligned, strap-like portions extending outwardly from opposite edges of said central portion. and adapted to be bent downwardly along.

opposite side portions or" said housing and under the bottom thereof to secure said device in place. 5. Awball stud retainer adapted to prevent separation of the ball stud and housing ofja wornball. and socket connection in the steering gear of an'automobileand comprising a meta straphaving a central portion providedzwith a circular. opening therein of. a diameter inter.-

mediate the diameter of said'stud and the diameter of the =ball thereon,.,whereby said stud but not said ballmay pass therethrough; said central portion. being of a size adapted-substantially to coventhe top of said housing and to form a substantially continuous seat for a...dust cap; oppo sitely disposed straps integral with said central portion adapted to extendzdownwardly along-0pposites sides oi saidhousing and under :thebottom'thereof with their end portionsin juxtaposed relation, and means for securi-nzgsaid: end portionsof said straps together.

- 6. The combination with'aball andsocket connection in the tie rod of anautomobile steering mechanism, including a ball stud and a housing,

of 'a" safety device for preventing separation of said stud and housing when-worn and comprising "a metal strap having a centralportion substantially covering the top oi' said housing and 4 provided with an aperture therein through which saidstud passes; said" aperture being. substantially smaller than said ball whereby to prevent itsipassage therethrough'; and portions integral with and narrower'than said-central portion exa tending downwardly along the opposite sides of said housing and under the bottomthereofin close engagement with said housing, and means securing'said last mentioned portions together 7. The structure set forth in claim 5 including a spring surrounding said stud and compressed between said'ball and said strap.

between said ball and said strap.

8. The structure set forth in claim 6 including a spring surrounding said stud andcompressed pours wALnnoN. 

